07/10/2020 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 7 October, the European Parliament approved, by a large majority (515 votes to 110, with 70 abstentions), the decision to award the External Trade portfolio to European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis, following the resignation of Phil Hogan at the end of August. Following his successful hearing in front of MEPs on Friday 2 October (see EUROPE 12573/7), the European Parliament Committee on International Trade made 17 recommendations to Dombrovskis, including the importance of developing the EU’s concept of “open strategic autonomy”, including by “diversifying supply chains and ‘nearshoring’”. It also asked him to make sustainable development and the fight against climate change central pillars of European foreign trade policy, which is currently under review. (MB)